KHYBER
With completion of the International standard transit terminal at Torkham border will increase mutual trade between Pakistan and Central Asia.
Under the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project, setting up an international standard transit terminal in Torkham is in process that will provide clearance facilities to the traders under a single roof.
Sharing details Additional Collector Custom Muhammad Tayyab said that it is mega project of custom department that is being constructed with expenses of 16.60 billion rupees with support of Asian Development Bank and is expected to be completed in 2023.
Pakistan has achieved 80 percent of its goals of the trade facilitation agreement signed with the World Trade Organization in 2015, he added and said Pakistan ranking in the World Bank has improved from 136 to 108.
He further said that following completion of the scheme 500 trucks will be parked in the terminal in addition with introduction of one window clearance system at Torkham will not only cut expenses and clearance time of the traders and cargo vehicles but will add extra revenue to the national exchequer.
He maintained that a modern and well- equipped custom station will be built in Torkham that will connect to 77 various agencies and departments of the government through an internet system.
Amanat Khan, Deputy Collector Custom said that in 1980 manual clearance facility was provided to the businessmen at Torkham Border to businessmen that gradually improved with passage of time.
He added that in 1992 an on-line system was introduced that was further improved with the packs system in 2005 that has been replaced with the V- Box system.
Experts say that with establishment of modern, on-line transit terminal in Torkham in addition with imposition of other pro-trade measures will increase 37 percent of export of Pakistan.
